Michigan Attorney General: Gun Silencers Can Be Used In The State

September 3, 2011 11:55 PM

Semi-automatic gun w/ silencer (istockphoto).

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DETROIT (AP) - Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says gun silencers can be used in the state by gun owners who have federal authorization.

Schuette’s opinion says that Michigan citizens who comply with federal firearm regulations can use the devices on their guns to “protect their hearing and minimize noise disruptions” in the surrounding area.

Marquette County Sheriff Michael Lovelace says the “rigorous” federal licensing process will make sure only law-abiding citizens win permission to possess a silencer.

Possessing a silencer without federal authorization remains a five-year felony under Michigan law.

Michigan Attorney General: Gun Silencers Can Be Used In The State

raind

Gee Bill, how much did the NRA “donate” to the elect Bill fund? What’s more of a threat to the average person, a plant or a lethal weapon?

Jon Tzilos

Mike Cox was the AG who originally pushed for suppressors to be legalized in MI, right after he had automatics (machine guns) legalized. Both are legal at the federal level and in most states and neither are used by criminals in any relevant capacity. Keeping them banned did not affect public safety or violent crime in any way, so the laws were overturned.

This has nothing to do with the NRA, it’s simply about reversing laws that had no reason to exist in the first place.

Mouhamad A. Naboulsi

I was told by many of my peers and my managers over the last few decades that I posess a creative immagination.

Since I heard of this law, I have tried my best to come up or immagine a reason why would anyone need a silencer and can not find one.

Can someone please help me out here? The excuse that silencers are needed to “minimize noise disruptions in the surrounding areas” is nonesense. If any law abiding citizen is firing a gun, he definetly want the rest of the world to hear it so they can summon help.

As for the hearing protection, How many times do we expect people to discharge their weapon outside a firing range?

This is truly an absurd law and does not make any sense what so ever.

Mouhamad A. Naboulsi

p.s. No one said I was a good at spelling.
Jon Tzilos

Sound suppressors are used as safety devices in much of the world and are required in some places to reduce noise pollution, namely at shooting ranges. In places like the UK, where guns are heavily restricted, silencers are sold freely and their use is considered good manors.

Very few, if any people are attacked or killed by criminals wielding silencers. They are expensive and difficult to acquire and ownership of one subjects you to an in-depth federal background check. The demonization of suppressors is a product of Hollywood’s image of them as an ominous tool employed by assassins that renders a gunshot completely silent…this is not at all true.

FYI suppressors are legal in most states already, MI is behind the times. I recently moved out of MI and into NY (where they’re still illegal for some reason) but I really wish I could have had a suppressor for all the recreational shooting I did. Many people like myself who like to shoot recreationally or competitively also prefer suppressors as they reduce the risk of hearing loss.